Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) would work with Congress to push for legislation to address the spread of disinformation and fake news.
Angeles said this after she admitted that there was no budget yet for efforts to fight misinformation in her office's proposed budget for 2023.
In a Facebook post, Angeles said the OPS was ready to give Congress recommendations that would help combat false information on the Internet.
"Nagbigay rin tayo ng suporta sa Kongreso para sa panukalang batas sa paglaban sa fake news at disinformation (We showed our support to Congress for a proposed law against fake news and disinformation)," she said Friday evening, September 2.
"Handang magbigay at magsumite ang ating opisina ng suhestiyon at impormasyon na kinakailangan para makamtan natin ang 'whole-of-government' approach kontra fake news (Our office is prepared to give suggestions and information necessary to achieve a 'whole-of-government' approach against fake news)," she added.
During the House appropriations committee's hearing on the OPS' budget, Angeles said the absence of funds allotted for the fight against misinformation prompted the OPS to work double-time in its "social monitoring."
Despite this, the Palace official said the OPS plans to create a fact-checking team and provide additional information on raging issues they can monitor.
According to Angeles, she shared with Congress the programs and plans of the OPS under her leadership.
She thanked the lawmakers for their support of the OPS budget.
"Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga mambabatas sa kanilang suporta sa pagsasaayos ng pondo na kinakailangan upang mas maipaigting pa natin ang operasyon ng ating ahensya (We thank our lawmakers for their support in working on the funds that we need so we can intensify the operation of our agency)," Angeles wrote in her Facebook post.
"Makakaasa po kayo na ang buong puwersa ng OPS ay patuloy na magtatrabaho at gagampanan ang aming tungkulin para sa sambayanang Pilipino at sa ngalan ng serbisyo publiko (Rest assured that the entire OPS will continue working and fulfilling our duties to the Filipino and in the name of public service)," she added.
The OPS proposes a P1.22-billion budget for next year or a 24-percent decrease from its current funding.